Nearly 100 latecomers set up shop in warehouses, garages, and basements to help power the radio craze.

Image Left:
Early RCA radio with headphones.

1927

Charles Lindbergh solos across the Atlantic on May 20, 1927 in the "Spirit of St. Louis," carrying two Ray-O-Lite flashlights as part of his emergency equipment.

1941-45

Pearl Harbor ignites U.S. participation in WWII and RAYOVAC® leak-proof batteries are demanded by the millions to power field telephones, mine detectors, radio communications, flashlights and other gear.

RAYOVAC:

Establishes seven new production facilities

Scours up nearly 14,000 new employees, many of them women and elderly men

Supplies the U.S. military with nearly 500,000,000 batteries

Is awarded with eight Army-Navy "E" awards for major contribution to victory by the war’s close

Image Bottom:
National sales conference in 1940 was the last one until after WWII.

1942

Don Tyrell turns an unmanned floor of RAYOVAC®'s flashlight plant into a makeshift factory for Browning Automatic Rifle (B.A.R) parts, working within a wartime organization made up of vastly different manufacturing firms.

Image Right:
A Clinton made automatic rifle in action during World War II.

1944

Tropical heat and humidity wreak havoc on RAYOVAC®'s regular leak proof cells. French partners with a co-inventor of the plug-in radio, Dr. Samuel Ruben, to expedite production of his newly developed air tight button cells to support the pacific troops.

Staffing the new button cell plant in Madison is such a struggle that RAYOVAC® allows people to work "pay-as-you-go" shifts doing simple tasks- often teaching them on the spot the same day as they would be paid for their work.

Image Left:
RMR Plant gave work to thousands with "full-time, part-time, pay-as-you-go" programs during WWII.

1965

"Doc" Swenson, RAYOVAC® production worker, takes the U.S. media by storm as America's Oldest Worker at the age of 100.

President Lyndon Johnson and former president Dwight Eisenhower both send telegraphed greetings.

Ten years prior, at age 90, "Doc" is gifted with a brand new Chevrolet by President and GM Don Tyrell, fulfilling a promise made nearly 10 years earlier.

Image Right:
Doc Swenson punches the time clock on his hundredth birthday, 1965.

1992

A specially designed RAYOVAC® battery is on board the Space Shuttle Endeavor for its maiden voyage.

We continue to supply the government with specialized batteries today.

Image Left:
Space Shuttle Endeavor in orbit.

1992

RAYOVAC® begins a decade plus long relationship with Arnold Palmer for appearance in numerous advertisements promoting the hearing aid batteries.

1995

RAYOVAC® contracts with Michael Jordan to launch new Renewal battery technology to the public and later market RAYOVAC® Maximum Alkaline, among other products.

1914

The French Battery Company introduces the French Flasher.

Flashlights are so novel at the time publications often refer to them as "electric candles".

Battery technology is so poor that consumers flash them on and off to keep them working for any valuable amount of time, yielding RAYOVAC®'s product name.

1939

The patented, industry-first steel can reduces leakage and provides a much longer lasting battery.

Image Left:
Early leak proof advertising did not trumpet the main advantage of this new battery. During WWII, a "soft sell" approach was used, because nearly all went to the military instead of civilians.

1949

RAYOVAC® introduces the steel Sportsman® flashlight.

Designed expressly for campers, hunters, and fisherman, it's triple plated chrome shell and stylish exterior make it a universal favorite.

Image Right:
Sportsman® flashlight introduced by Clinton in 1949.

1950

The one billionth RAYOVAC® leak proof battery rolls off the assembly line.

RAYOVAC® celebrates the occasion with a ceremony attended by then Wisconsin Governor, Oscar Rennebohm among others.

Image Bottom:
Celebrating achievement of Signal's two-million cell daily production quota early in 1944. 1,200 pounds of cake - baked in the shape of giant batteries - were served.

1956

RAYOVAC® celebrates its 50th birthday by listing 700,000 common shares at an opening price of $16.50 on the NYSE.

Image Right:
RAYOVAC® stock went "on the big board" July 30, 1956. Checking the ticker tape are Keith Funston, left, president of the New York Stock Exchange; President D. W. Tyrrel and E. B. Schryver, stock broker.